Reflective illusion device

ABSTRACT

A substantially hemi-spherical reflective device formed as a shell having a light dispersing inner surface comprising a multiplicity of light reflecting ribs arranged to cause a repeated reflection of light rays within the shell and a flickering light source whereby rays of the light create the illusion that the entire interior of the shell is filled with moving lights.

0 United States Patent 11 1 [111 3,772,511 Marban Nov. 13, 1973 [54]REFLECTIVE ILLUSION DEVICE 2,165,900 7/1939 McGuire 240/103 A 1761Inventor Enrique Mam-1, 4350 Ford 53113133 211313 15225533331111:""3211: 31813 chlcago, 60652 1,521,610 1/1925 Finesilver 240/1.3 [22]Filed: Dec. 29, 1971 Primary Examiner-Samuel S. Matthews [21] Appl'213588 Assistant Examiner-Monroe H. Hayes Att0rneyLeo Gregory [52] US.Cl 240/10 R, 240/10 S, 240/103 [51] Int. Cl. A47g 33/16, F2lp 1/02 57ABSTRACT F' l [58] R d of Search 240/10 10 3 A substantla'llyheml-spherical reflective device formed as a shell having a l1ghtdlsperslng mner sur- UNITED STATES PATENTS within the shell and aflickering light source whereby 2,190,283 2/1940 Eckelberg 240/10 S Xrays of the create the illusion that the entire in- 2,817,007 12957Gallagher 240/10 S X terior of the shell is filled with moving lights.3,154,361 10/1964 Franke.... 240/l.3 X 2,228,691 1/1941 Crosser 240/10 SX 1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figures W A I, 37 b l x & I-

REFLECTIVE ILLUSION DEVICE BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Knownin the art are light sources such as electric light bulbs which arearranged to provide a flickering light.

The invention herein represents an improvement in connection with aflickering light source in providing a partial enclosure thereforcomprising a light dispersing surface which creates the illusion of saidenclosure being filled with moving light.

It is an object of the invention herein, therefore, to provide areflective device which partially encloses a flickering light source toenhance and make novel the appearance of the flickering light.

It is another object of this invention to provide in connection with aflickering light source therein, means comprising a light dispersingsurface partially enclosing said light source and causing the flickeringlight therein to be reflected repeatedly within said means.

More specifically, the invention herein relates to a flickering lightsource mounted upon a base having a clamp and a substantiallyhemi-spherical reflector having means in connection therewith to besecured by said clamp whereby said reflector is partially disposed aboutsaid light source and said reflector comprises an inner surfaceembodying light dispersing means for the repeated reflection within theinterior of said reflector of rays of said flickering light to createthe illusion that said reflector is filled with moving light.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be setforth in the following description made in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer tosimilar parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIG. 1 is a view of the device herein in front elevation;

FIG. 2 is a view in vertical section taken on line 22 of FIG. 1 asindicated;

FIG. 3 is a view in horizontal section taken on line 33 of FIG. 1 asindicated;

FIG. 4 is a view in rear elevation with a portion thereof being brokenaway; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of a detail of structure in section on anenlarged scale taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 2 as indicated.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, thedevice herein is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10.Comprising said device is a base portion 12 here shown to be cubic inform and having a central vertical passage 14 circular in horizontalsection extending therethrough.

Seated within said passage and extended upwardly of.

said base portion 12 is a conventional type of a light socket 15 havingan electric cord 16 extended outwardly of said base 12 as through anaccommodating passage 17. Said cord 16 will extend to a convenientsource of current and will be appropriately equipped with a conventionalterminal. Said socket is suitably held within said passage 14 by beingpressure fit therein.

Threaded into said socket and extending upwardly therefrom is anelectric bulb 25. There are a number of light bulb structures known inthe art which are arranged upon being energized to provide a flickeringlight on the order of a flame. This is accomplished in various knownways, particular means for which are not a part of the invention hereinother than having such a light bulb used in connection with the deviceherein. The specific means for creating the flickering light is notherein described and is regarded as being conventional and known in theart.

Mounted on the upper surface of said base 12 are clamp members 18 and 19which taken together form a commonly used shoe type clamp. Said members18 and 19 are of conventional design comprising right angled members inparallel spaced relation facing outwardly oppositely of each other andbeing disposed at either side of said socket l5. Carried at therespective forward end portions of the members 18 and 19 are stopmembers 20 and 21.

In connection with said base portion 12 and said lamp 25 is a reflectivemeans 27 forming a reflective member or reflector which comprises theessential subject matter of the invention herein. Said reflector may beconveniently formed of suitable plastic material, of fiberglass or ofglass as may be desired and is here shown to be substantiallyhemi-spherical in form having an open ended U-shaped slot 28 formed intoa peripheral portion thereof. Disposed at either side of said slot andintegral with said reflector are a pair of spaced clamp members 30 and31 integral with said reflector and having lower right angled flangeportions angled in the direction toward one another forming clampportions 32 and 33 to be disposed respectively into said shoe portions18 and 19. Said reflector is shown in operating position in FIG. I.

Said reflector in connection with the formation of its interior surface35 lends an unusual element of novelty taken with the flickering bulb25. The essential characteristic of said surface is that it forms averyeffective light dispersing surface to cause repeated reflection oflight rays within said reflector. Such a surface may be variously formedand said surface in the embodiment here illustrated has in connectiontherewith a multiplicity of radial ribs 37 substantially V-shaped incross section as indicated in FIG. 5 on a magnified scale. The effect ofsaid ribs in dispersing light rays A is indicated in FIG. 5. Theinterior surface of said reflector is preferably a highly reflectivesurface such as a chrome or like surface. As indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3,said reflector will form an enclosure substantially about said bulb 25.

In operation, said cord 16 will be connected to a suitable source ofcurrent to energize and illumine the bulb 25 which upon being energizedwill provide a flickering light source. The rays of said lightwithinsaid reflector will be reflected repeatedly by the ribbed interiorsurface of said reflector in rebounding from one interior surfaceportion to another and said ribs 37 by their transverse configurationcreate a great multiplicity of said light rays to providethe appearanceof dancing or moving light filling the entire interior of saidreflector, even to the point of causing the appearance of the light bulbto merge into the light and in effect disappear.

I Varied effective results are attained by the use of coland beingconnected to a current source and having said light bulb disposedtherein, 7

a reflective member being substantially hemispherical in form disposedabove said light bulb forming an enclosure partially thereabout andhaving an open ended U-slot in a peripheral portion thereof receivingsaid socket therein,

means slidably removably securing said reflective member to said baseportion, and

a multiplicity of radial ribs angular in cross section extending fromthe central portion of said reflective member to the periphery thereof.

1. A reflective illusion device including an electric light bulb forminga flickering light source having in combination a self standing basemember, an electric socket upstanding in said base member and beingconnected to a current source and having said light bulb disposedtherein, a reflective member being substantially hemi-spherical in formdisposed above said light bulb forming an enclosure partially thereaboutand having an open ended U-slot in a peripheral portion thereofreceiving said socket therein, means slidably removably securing saidreflective member to said base portion, and a multiplicity of radialribs angular in cross section extending from the central portion of saidreflective member to the periphery thereof.